Standard voltaic cell.



Patented Aug. I5, I899.

R. 0. mgmmcu. STANDARD VOLTAIC CELL.

(Application filed Apr. 4, 1899.)

(N0 Model.)

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v NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD O. HEINRICH, OF BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO THE IVESTONELECTRICAL INSTRUMENT COMPANY, OF NEIVARK, NEIV JERSEY.

STAN DARD V0 LTAIC CELL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,044, dated August15, 1899.

Application filed April 4, 1899. Serial No. 711,654. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, RICHARD O. HEINRICH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Berlin, Germany, have made a new and useful Invention inStandard Voltaic Cells, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is directed to improvements in voltaic cells of the H type,in which liquid electrodes are utilized-such, for instance, as are shownand described in United States Patent No. 49%,827, granted April 4,1893, to Edward Weston; and its objects are, first, to provide adiaphragm or diaphragms between the liquid electrodes and theelectrolyte or battery solution which shall permit of the liberation ofany air that may accumulate thereunder on the insertion of suchdiaphragm or diaphragms in position in the cells, and, second, toprovide means for maintaining the diaphragms permanently in positionbetween the liquid electrodes and electrolyte or battery solution.

Heretofore it has been customary in the construction of voltaic cells ofthe type referred to to separate the battery solution from the liquidelectrodes by porous diaphragms of the same diameter as the internaldiameters of the cells themselves. It is found in practice, however,that such diaphragms will retain air beneath them and also that theyoften become liberated and float or swim in the battery solution,thereby practically defeating the object for which they are designed. Myinvention efiectually overcomes these objectionable features, and willbe fully understood by referring to the accompanying drawing, which is apart sectional, part side elevational, view of a well-known form ofvoltaic cell of the H type, Iny improvement being illustrated inconnection therewith in sectional view in one of the cells and in dottedlines in the other of said cells.

Referring to the drawing in detail, H H represent the individual cellsof a voltaic battery of the H type, said cells being condected togetherin the usual manner by a transverse tube I.

E E represent the liquid electrodes in the bottom of said cells, and WIV the conductors of the battery, extending through the bottoms of thecells to the liquid electrodes.

A represents the electrolyte or battery solution. This electrolyte orbattery solution A and the liquid electrodes E E may be of the samenature as are the corresponding elements of the Weston cell disclosed inthe before-mentioned patent,No. 494,827, or they may be of any otherwell-known material generally utilized in such cells, and the perforateddiaphragms B C B C and tubes D D maybe of hard rubber, glass, or anymaterial which will withstand the action of the liquids used.

My improvement consists in constructing the diaphragms which separatethe electrodes from the electrolyte or battery solution of two disks BC, either integral with or otherwise secured to an escape or vent tubeD, extending upward axially through each cell, said disks being bothperforated, as shown at K K, F being the usual porous packing, such asasbestos, secured between the disks B C. The lower disk C is preferablyfunnel. shaped, as shown, for the purpose of afiording greater facilityfor the escape of air on inserting the diaphragm in place.

On assembling the parts of a voltaic cell of the character indicated andprovided with my novel form of diaphragm the liquid electrodes E E ofthe usual materials are inserted 8c in the cells H H, after which thespace between the disks B C is packed with a porouslike material, suchas asbestos, and the two diaphragms are then inserted in place until thefunnel-shaped disks C rest just above their respective electrodes. Theelectrolyte or battery solution A is then poured into the cells H untilthey are filled to points near the tops of the escape or vent tubes D,after which corks are inserted about the ends of said 0 tubes andthecells sealed with paraffin G G, an additional sealing being efiected bycorks J or other means, if preferred.

It is apparent that the escape or vent tubes D being secured at theirupper ends in the manner described will prevent at all times the upwardmovement of the diaphragms, thus always maintaining them in a fixedrelation to the electrodes E E and constituting independent means formaintaining such 10o fixed relation.

1 do not limit myself to the particular structure of diaphragm hereinshown and described for a voltaic cell provided with liquid electrodes,as it is obvious that the general form or structure might be varied atwill and still come within the scope of my claims, so long as thediaphragm itself be provided with means for afiording an escape or ventfor air accumulated thereunder, and also so long as said diaphragmitself be provided with independent means for securely holding it inplace above the electrode, so that it cannot float or swim in theelectrolyte or battery solution.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States, is

1. In avoltaic cell having liquid electrodes, a diaphragm located aboveeach electrode and separating the same from the electrolyte or batterysolution, each diaphragm being. secured to a vent-tube which extendsabove the electrolyte or battery solution; in combination with means atthe top of the cell for securing the vent-tubes directly thereto,substantially as described.

2. In avoltaic cell havingliquid electrodes, a diaphragm located aboveeach electrode and separating the same from the electrolyte or batterysolution, and provided each with an upwardly extending vent tube secureddi- 4. In a voltaic cell of the H type, a dia- I phragm consisting of aporous packing and two disks secured to an escape or vent tube, incombination with means at the top of the cell for securing and sealingsaid tube, sub stantially as described.

5. In a voltaic cell of the H type, a diaphragmconsisting of twoperforated disks, the lower one being funnel-shaped, in combination withan escape or vent tube securing said disks together and means near thetop of the cell for sealing and securing said venttube, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto-subscribed my name this 18thday ofMarch, 1899.

RICHARD O. HEINRICH.

Witnesses:

WQLDEMAR HAUPT, HENRY HAsPER.

